New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-10
pYJSH HIGH LICENSE.

No stone should be left unturncd in urging
forward the Crosby High-License Dill at Al
b.rv The measure is not one which Is to be
,roardcd as rcprescnting only the temperance
sentiment. II is cmphatically a bill in the
common interests of civilization and good gov
crnmcnt. Every taxpayer is directly concerned
in resisting that perncious and apparently I'M
limited multiplication of the saloons which leads
to increase of crime and indulgence, and dis
order and discomfort; which not only fosters
Socialist and Anarchist ideas, but swells the
number of the lawlcSs. insane, sick and dcstl-
tute who every year demand greater accommo-
dalton and expenditure in maintaining prisons,
penitentiarics, asylums, hospitals and charitable
refugees. Those who refuse to believe in Pro-
hibition must conccdc the faulty OF a otatc
policy which imposes no practical or chccuVe
restrictions upon an agency Responsible 1or UWo-
thirds of the worst and most costly evils whlch
tho community suffers which can only thriVe
Mt the EXPENSE of the whole people; the pros
pe1ity Of which is measured by the mischief IL
does to its direct supporters and the weight OF
the burden it lays upon every property owner
In the commonwealth.
At this moment the liquor interest, alarmed
at tho popular approval which the High-Ll-
ccnse bill is cliciting is marshalling It's forces
for a determined attack upon the measure.
Every political influence the saloons possess
will be brought to bear upon the Legislature
Efforts will he made to create the impression
that the evidences of public feeling in favor OF
the bill are not trustworthy. The most dan
gerous and dcmoralizing agency In American
politics is beginning TO realize that its Anna
eeddon is at hand, and 1t can be relied on TO
fight to the uttermost. 1t would 10 folly TO
assert that the contest before the people Is one
to be viewed lightly. The saloon has been
permitted in the past to intrench itself strong
ly, and public apathy has given it great adj
vantage. Nevertheless, High License must be
insisted upon, and all who believe that 1t has
become necessary TO curtail the influence OF the
saloon in politics and society are under the
strongest obligations to contribute all they can
to the success of the pending bill. Tho first
practical step TO he taken Is TO convince the
Legislature that 1t is really tho people of New
York generally who demand this law, and that
they are so convinced of its necessity that they
will not overlook or pardon deliberate be-
travail of their interests. Demonstration Of this
will do more than anything else to secure the
passage of the bill. but the Legislature must
not 10 allowed to pretend by-and-by that it
really did not know the bill was demanded by
the people.
A better opportunity was never afforded Tor
the ProhibiioniSs 10 prove the saneness OF
their position. High License. as every one
knows, is possible here |; but Prohibition is not
possible. Year after year these agitators have
seen the liquor interest triumph and the saloon
influence extend because they would not take
what was attainable, but insisted on wasting
their forces upon that which was wholly out OF
reach Now at last a public opinion has de-
veloped which calls loudly for the restriction
of the saloon Now at last general support
can be had for direct and fcas bic temperance
measure. If those who call themselves dis
tinctvely temperance advocates hold aloof from
this struggle they may as well abandon all hope
of persuading the American people that they
are sincere or practical, and they will appeal In
vain for help hcncef0rth. But 1t Is TO business
men, merchants, law-loving and law-abiding
citizens generally that the present appeal Is
made. Let such reflect how much the saloon
has to answer for in the labor troubles which
have so recently threatened trade and man
ufacture with paralysis. Let them realize how
much Of the high taX-rate this agency creates
and maintains. Lct them consider the hope
lessness Of all effort &c establish or preserve n
high civilization and steady rate Of progress
while the saloon poisons society at the fountain
head and sows vice and turbulence broadcast.
The High License bill must be sustained by
public meetings and demonstrations by public
Endorsements and attcstations. What the liquor
interest is doing against the measure must be
met and overcome by equal energy on higher
plane.